Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Structual Support - Front Porch

I’m in the process of designing the structural portion of my covered front porch. Measuring 8 feet deep x 42 feet long (spanning the entire front of the house.) After designing the structure in cad; something doesn’t look right and was wondering if any of you professional could help out. I’m a do-it-yourselfer, and tend to overbuild my projects.

• I’m going with a 2”x10”x42’ ledger board
• 6 - Concrete construction tubes 48” in the ground (Upstate NY)
• 6 - 4”x4” posts from concrete up to a double 2”x12” beam for the front support (the span is 8’ deep as mentioned above)
• From the ledger to the top of the front beam I’m going with 2”x10”x8’ 8 foot OC. For the joists, I’m running 2”x8”x8’ 16” OC perpendicular to the secondary beams running from the ledger to the main beam to run my decking perpendicular to the house.

I hope I explained that well enough. Basically, I will be using 6 – 4”x4” posts. Are those big enough, or should I be using 6”x6” (building codes do not specify). I’ll have a roof pitch of 5/12. Just driving around it looks like most front porches just use about 6 – 4”x4” posts with similar porches.

Here are a few more questions;

I know it can be done both ways, but which way do you prefer; (A) run the posts straight up to the roof from the top of the concrete construction tube (essentially through the main beam, through the decking and right up on to the roof), or (B) run separate posts, one set from concrete construction tube to main beam and the other post from the top of the decking to the roof.

Looks like the best way to set it up is to straddle the front posts with the main beam, (I guess it wouldn’t be called a double beam anymore but two singles…lay the secondary beams flush to the outside of the main beam, and run the posts straight up through to the roof. Do you agree? If I do this, my rim joist will stick out 1.5” further than my main beam. I can attach the lattice to the main beam and cover the rim joist with vinyl.

Thanks in advance to any commments.

Bigpop, welcome to the forums. The codes may not indicate which size to use, but since you are adding a roofline, I would consider using the 6x6's. It also would depend on how high it is off the ground. You don't want the 4x4's twisting or bowing. Where I am located, you can start an 8' deck at grade level and wind up 14' off the ground on the free end, due to building on the side of these mountains.
Your idea on running the decking perpindicular to the residence is right on. Be sure to use properly sized joist hangers both on the main ledger and the cross ledgers.
You will want to give your floor rim joists vertical support, so I usually notch out the 6x6's enough to rest the rim joists in the mouth, and allow the post to extend all the way to the top. Then I use 7" x 1/2" carriage bolts to keep them together. You will now have a flushness with the vertical members as well as the rim joists. By bolting the 6x6's to the rim joists, you are re-creating the full strength of the vertical 6x6, so you don't lose any strength. Using 4x4's will limit you on how you can do this.
Hope some of this helps. Give a post if we can help further.